Parliamentary Law Making Flashcards
How many members are in the house of commons
650
what is the most powerful house
commons
what are three ways that lords can become lords
Hereditary peers
Life peers
Most senior 26 bishops
Can the HoL stop a bill from prgressing
no
What three bodies create parliament
Monarch
HoC
HoL
what does ceremonial figure head mean
exercise executive powers.
Green papers
put forward proposals for law reform from the Government
White Paper
White paper, with its firm proposals for the new law. This will state their decisions as to how they are going to reform the law. White papers may include drafts to the new bill, but still allow for later changes to be made
First Reading
This is a formal procedure where the name of the Bill is read out.No discussion or vote takes place.
Second Reading
Main debate on the whole bill in which MPs debate the principles behind the bill, not the smaller details. A vote is then taken
Committee Stage
A detailed examination of each clause of the Bill is undertaken by a committee of 16-50 MPs or Lords. Government will have a majority, and the opposition and other parties will be proportionately represented
Report Stage
Committee report back to the House on any amendments that have been voted on and passed. If there are no amendments, then there is no report stage
Third Reading
This is the final vote on the Bill. A Bill is unlikely to fail if it has reached this stage
Royal Assent
A formality where the monarch gives the bill assent, usually the bill will then become an Act of Parliament at midnight that day
how does the media influence law making
may influence through campaigns e.g. News of the World with Sarah’s law
